DAILY- HOMILY

AUGUST 24, 2013
FEAST, SAINT BARTHOLOMEW THE APOSTLE
SATURDAY 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Ru 2:1-3,8-11;4:13-17 / Ps 145: 10-11. 12-13. 17-18 / Mt 23:1-12

READINGS
Ruth 2:1-3,8-11;4:13-17
Naomi had a well-to-do kinsman, Boaz, from the clan of her husband Elimelech. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go to pick up the left-over grain in the field whose owner will allow me that favor." Naomi said, "Go ahead, my daughter." So she went to glean in the fields behind the harvesters. It happened that the field she entered belonged to Boaz of the clan of Elimelech. Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen, my daughter. Don't go away from here to glean in anyone else's field. Stay here with my women servants. See where the harvesters are and follow behind. I have ordered the men not to molest you. They have filled some jars with water. Go there and drink when you are thirsty." Bowing down with her face to the ground, she ex- claimed, "Why have I, a foreigner, found such favor in your eyes?" Boaz answered, "I have been told all about you—what you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband's death, how you have gone with her, leaving your own father and mother and homeland, to live with a people you knew nothing about before you came here. So Ruth was taken by Boaz and became his wife. Yahweh made her conceive and give birth to a son. The women said to Naomi, "Blessed be Yahweh who has provided you today with an heir. May he become famous in Israel! He will be your comfort and stay in your old age, for he is born of a daughter-in-law who loves you and is worth more than seven sons." Naomi took the child as her own and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him his name, saying, "A son has been born for Naomi." They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, who was David's father.

Matthew 23:1-12
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees have sat down on the chair of Moses. So you shall do and observe all they say, but do not do as they do, for they do not do what they say. They tie up heavy burdens and load them on the shoulders of the people, but they do not even raise a finger to move them. They do everything in order to be seen by people: they wear very wide bands of the Law around their foreheads, and robes with large tassels. They enjoy the first places at feasts and reserved seats in the synagogues, and they like being greeted in the marketplace, and being called `Master' by the people. But you, do not let yourselves be called Master, because you have only one Master, and all of you are brothers and sisters. Neither should you call anyone on earth Father, because you have only one Father, he who is in heaven. Nor should you be called Leader, because Christ is the only Leader for you. Let the greatest among you be the servant of all. For whoever makes himself great shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be made great.

REFLECTION
The famous last sentence above can be simply seen as a classic lesson on humility. But if we imagine ourselves at the precise time that these words were said by Jesus, we find a more challenging exhortation by our Lord. Nearing the end of his earthly life, Jesus, prepared the disciples for their coming persecutions as they defend their fledgling faith in the face of the established territory of the Pharisees. These church leaders flaunted their status in the society by calling themselves the Father, the Master and the Leader of the then established Jewish religion. Jesus says that such posturing will soon be weakened because it has no foundation. On the other hand the foundation of the early disciples will soon be strengthened because they do not claim for themselves such haughty titles but rather are firm in their belief that they have the full support and guidance of someone who is the more powerful teacher, master and leader. In other words, the way of life of the Pharisees would soon be over simply because their belief was purely on themselves. The disciples, however, had the unshakeable faith that the Church would soon prevail because they were humble enough to put their trust in somebody outside of themselves. May we, therefore, recognize the lesson the Lord is posing to us that both passive humility and absolute pride can be expressions of weakness in faith. As always, faith, especially one that is lived, is the greatest of all virtues.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of Ditas dela Paz, Toots Monfort, Virginia Hernandez, and Fleur Torres
… for the personal intentions of Pauline
… for the eternal repose of the souls of Inocencio B. Bajala. Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Arnold Tolentino
- Birthday: Stephen Basa Ong Cheng
- Birthday: Catherine Chua
- Thanksgiving: Mr. & Mrs. Jose Apuy & Family
… for families who are in need of healing
… for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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